Stop the war activists prepare for new demo

There is a growing sense that the war in Afghanistan is heading for even greater disaster and cannot be won.

Media reports compare it to the Russian defeat there or to Vietnam. There is anger throughout Britain as this war continues to escalate.

The death rate of British soldiers is increasing and many thousands of Afghans have died – although no one knows how many because no one bothers to count.

In the next few days the anti-war movement will mark the deaths of more than 200 British soldiers with dozens of vigils around the country at which we will read the names of the dead.

On Monday protesters, including Tony Benn, gathered at the Cenotaph in London to read the names of both Afghans and British who have died as a result of the conflict.

More and more people in Britain are recognising that this war is unwinnable.

A clear majority in opinion polls now want the troops out immediately or within months.

Some of those most opposed to the war have friends and family in the army.

Stop the War activists have been on the streets campaigning and petitioning to get the troops home.

On 24 October there will be a national demo calling for troops out.

Every day Stop the War receives new contacts from around the country, new activities and groups are being set up.

There is real enthusiasm for a mass campaign leading up to the demonstration in October.

Stop the War is asking all groups to:

Use the petition calling for troops out of Afghanistan in shopping centres, your own street or estate, in work or college.

We want mass signatures to hand in to Downing Street on 24 October when there will be a mass troops out demo

Book coaches for the October demo now

Build the demo at the Labour Party conference on 27 September. One of the themes of the protest is 'peace'. We should make this an opportunity to build a troops out movement within the unions and the Labour Party.

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